Opinion: The Voice of the People is the Voice of God

Young people in Nigeria complete the My World survey. The UN
is using digital media, mobile technology and door-to-door outreach to include as many people as possible in the debate on future global development
targets.

(Photo Credit: )

When
you think of the United Nations, what image comesto
mind?

A
powerful institution that makes decisions directly affecting the lives of people,
or governments sitting together discussing issues of pressing concern for the
world?

A
distant and remote place full of besuited bureaucrats pushing paper?

An
organization that responds to the needs of ordinary people, in war, in
disasters and in everyday life?

Do
you think the UN cares about what is important to you and other ordinary people
like you?

I
have workedinthe
UN for the last 15 years. From personal experience,I
can tell you that the firstthreeare
all true. Like any organization, there is both the good and the bad.

However,
when it comes to the idea that the UN wants to know what matters to you, there is something quite extraordinary happening right now. And we want you to be a
part of it.

The
UN is charged with defining a new global agreement on goalsfor
a better world to be achieved in the next 20 years. This could be agreeing that
efforts will be made to ensure every child gets a good education, that
every family has access toclean water, or
that forests and rivers are better protected. We have two years to agree to thesenew
goals, and
then set the clock running at the start of 2016 to achieve them.

At
the UN, we wantthese
new goals to bring about transformational change for both the people and the
planet.We
want these new goals toreaffirm the
principles of the Millennium Declaration, which was signed by every country at
the start of this century, expressing a
commitment to a world of prosperity, dignity, freedom and peace.

However,
what we all know is that the new set of goals cannot be so large that we look at
them and feel defeated; that we do not know where to start. We cannot have a
Christmas tree with every goal twinkling, each one capturing
our attentionand
distracting us. We need a select few priorities, the ones that matter the most,so
that we can focus hard on achieving them.

But
who makes the decision about what matters most?

The
UN?

Or
you?

The
answer is both! The UN has thrown open the doors and invited you to have your
sayin
this new development agenda.

The UN
is breaking new ground by using digital media, mobile phone
technology and extensive door-to-door outreach to citizens in order
to include as many individuals as possible in the debate on future global
targets.The MY World survey is asking you to tell us what matters most to
you and your family -- from education and healthcare, to equality between men
and women and jobs.

The
“you” so far has been over 800,000 people from 194 countries. The “you” has
been young and old, people living in poverty, people in refugee camps, people
living in cities, parents and children. The “you” have been reached through the
collective efforts of thousands of volunteers, scouts, guides and faith groups
who have organized together in order to reach those whose voices are not heard.
The “you” have been reached using the latest technology, SMS, Smart phones and
a host of other ways we could only have dreamed of at the turn of the century.

The Coca-Cola Company is playing its part and using its incredible social media platform
to touch the hearts and minds of people and ask them to join this global
conversation.

At the
UN, we are drawing together these voices and views in order to tell the story
of what the world wants. With the power of technology, we can see today that be
it in a favela in Brazil,
a rural community in Rwanda
or in a U.S.
city, people are saying that education matters most. Better
healthcare and access to water and sanitation are also prioritized across the
board. But we are also seeing other issues people care about and
want prioritized; they want an honest and responsive government, protection
from crime and violence and the preservation of the natural environment.
Interestingly, for the younger generations, we can see that better job
opportunities are a major priority.

Every
two minutes the MY World survey is updated, every two minutes we can see who is
voting, where they are voting from and what they are voting for. All of us can
watch the pulse of the world while we sit at our desks.

Corinne Woods

It is
world leaders, those in whom we have entrusted our faith to make the right
choices and the right decisions, for whom the “pulse of the world” is so
important. So, my promise to all of those millions who have had their say and
the thousands who have mobilized is to take their vision directly to leaders so
that their voices are heard.

Therefore, when the hard decisions are being made,
it is the voice of the people through MY World that will ring in their ears. MY
World data has already informed the Liberia, Bali and New York meetings of the
Secretary General’s High Level Panel on post-2015 chaired by the Heads of State
from the UK, Liberia and Indonesia. In addition, the Open Working Group on
Sustainable Development has taken MY World inputs as a key data point and the
results will also inform the Secretary General’s own report to UN member states
at the General Assembly in September 2013.

My
challenge to each and every one of you is to become one of the millions of
voters and one of the thousands of MY World advocates – encouraging your
friends, family and colleagues to take the survey. Details on how to engage can
be found at getinvolved.myworld2015.org.

Your voice matters. Your actions matter. In
your personal or professional lives each and every one of you can, and
will, reach out to hundreds of people. You have the power in your hands,
use it. Vote today and help define a better future for us all.

The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage company, offering over 500 brands to people in more than 200 countries. Of our 21 billion-dollar brands, 19 are available in lower- or no-sugar options to help people moderate their consumption of added sugar. In addition to our namesake Coca-Cola drinks, some of our leading brands around the world include: AdeS soy-based beverages, Ayataka green tea, Dasani waters, Del Valle juices and nectars, Fanta, Georgia coffee, Gold Peak teas and coffees, Honest Tea, Minute Maid juices, Powerade sports drinks, Simply juices, smartwater, Sprite, vitaminwater, and Zico coconut water. At Coca-Cola, we’re serious about making positive contributions to the world. That starts with reducing sugar in our drinks and continuing to introduce new ones with added benefits. It also means continuously working to reduce our environmental impact, creating rewarding careers for our associates and bringing economic opportunity wherever we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people around the world.